Open Art Exhibition – Overall Category

The Overall Winning Artists Category consists of the 10 Best Entries received from the 3 media categories of the Painting & Other Category, Photography & Digital Category and the 3 Dimensional Art Category.

The winning artists will now be featured on the Light Space & Time website for the month of September 2018 and thereafter, the artworks and links to the artist’s websites will remain online in the Light Space & Time Archives.

The overall winning artists’ category of the “Open” (No Theme) Art Exhibition will receive extensive worldwide publicity and promotion. In addition, the overall winning artists will also receive extensive worldwide publicity in the form of email marketing, 550+ press release announcements, event announcement posts and social media marketing.

Winning artists will also have their art exhibition results posted and promoted on ArtJobs/ArtWeek. Artweek/Artjobs produces 800,000-page impressions per month, 280,000 website visitors per month and has 30,000 newsletter subscribers.

Congratulations to our artists who made our 8th Annual “Open” Art Exhibition so successful this month. At any time, we invite our winners and other interested visitors to link their websites to the Gallery’s Archive section for further ongoing promotion.

The Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery will have digital “Open” Award Certificates, Event Postcard, and Press Releases sent to the winning artists within the next week or so. Thank you to all of the artists who participated and for being a part of the gallery. To return to the Open Home Page here.

1st Place – Donald Greco – “Heavens Crying”

Born in New York City, Mr. Greco has been hankering to express his visions, thoughts, dreams, and emotions since he was a young boy. Enraptured by the mountains and beauty he found in a short visit to Utah, Mr. Greco decided to relocate in the late 1980’s.

After arriving Mr. Greco quickly searched out the art scene, and was introduced to Ken Baxter who recognized his talents and became a mentor and friend of now more than 25 years. Mr. Greco knew from the first day this faithful meeting was not a coincidence, but the perfect timing from a higher power to push his artistic passions even further.

In his early years of experimenting, there was no premeditated vision of the end result, up until the Golden Moon. Followed by “Heaven’s Crying” which was inspired by his late wife Kimberly. Heaven’s Crying was painted after the death of Eric Clapton’s son with the hope she could one day give it to him, following her own death in 2010 he added her image to the painting.

Mr. Greco is primarily self-taught, drawing inspiration from Bob Ross, and guidance from his mentor Ken Baxter. He has perfected a unique multi-step process using broken automotive, metal shards and other items creating a style that is all his own.

Painting abstract art enables him to capture the very soul of what he sees and the deepest thoughts of what he feels. The title of the paintings are his interpretation, but the beauty of abstract art is that it allows the viewer to interpret it with their own imagination making it personal. His art has been shown at the Utah Arts Festival, Access Art Exhibition and the Springville Museum of Art. Donald’s website: www.grecolight.com

2nd Place – Andrew Haysom – “For Someone Beautiful – Kookaburra”

Andrew thinks of himself as a photographer first, Photoshop “junkie” second and has been dabbling into the world of digital art, inspired by the Photoshop Artistry and Awake training of Sebastian Michaels, for a couple of years now.

A fairly late convert to photography he bought his first DSLR only six years ago and is basically self-taught, but has recently progressed to developing and delivering Beginners Photography and Photoshop classes in the local area.

Whilst Andrew loves photographing anything, he is particularly inspired by nature and wildlife. His major interest is in bird photography and he enjoys having his images used in ways that support environmentally positive causes.

Andrew is a member of the Melbourne Zoo and whilst always saddened by seeing beautiful creatures in captivity understands the important role that the Zoo plays in campaigning for animal rights and conservation causes and their involvement in many projects to protect endangered species.

Andrew is also a sponsor at a local Dingo sanctuary to support Australia’s much-maligned and endangered apex predator, and a member of Birdlife, Australia’s primary support organization for conserving our wonderful bird species. Andrew’s Website: https://andrewhaysom.myportfolio.com

3rd Place – Pat DeVane Burns – “Dreaming of Nuts”

Successfully drawing and painting for years, as evidenced by many solo and group shows, a wall of ribbons, and repeat clients, Pat DeVane Burns wanted to dig still deeper into the creative process. In the fall of 2013, she enrolled in a college sculpture class with Master Artist, Marlin Adams, to fulfill her desire to create a bust of her mother, who died many years earlier in a car accident.

Several times Burns had tried to paint her mother’s portrait but was emotionally unable to do so. Clay was different. She found it to be a sensual medium, allowing thoughts, feelings, and emotions to pass directly from her hands into the clay. A beautiful bust of her mother resulted and a new passion was born.

At age 67, Burns continues college classes as a perpetual student, finding professors and other students provide fresh and exciting incoming ideas and methods. Contemporary classes add to the knowledge gained from past education at Georgia Governor’s Honors Program through Wesleyan College in Georgia, a full-tuition scholarship at Berry College in Rome, independent workshops, and a huge personal art library. Constant contact and ‘paint days’ with a close group of fellow artists is also a source of daily inspiration and action.

Pat DeVane Burns still draws and paints in oils and acrylics, has even delved recently into printmaking, but sculpture is her welcomed priority. Her deep love of animals provides a constant source of subject matter. Pat’s Website: www.patburnsart.com

4th Place – Darlene Kaplan – “Ginko Fruit”

Darlene Kaplan is an award-winning artist who has been captivating art lovers worldwide with her energetic Oriental Brush Paintings using Chinese watercolors for more than 40 years.

She grew up in the country in Tennessee and states, “All of my spare time was spent walking in the woods searching out bugs, plants and anything else that was alive. Those childhood days spent with nature is brought alive every time I put a brush stroke down on paper. All of my paintings are derived from nature.”

Darlene paints in the Lingnan style of Oriental Brush Painting which is a combination of Western and East Asian art. She has been studying with Henry Wo Yue-Kee from 1994 till present. Mr. Wo paints and teaches this freestyle of ink and color on rice paper that originated in China centuries ago.

“For many years I painted realism in oils before making the change to oriental brush painting. Studying martial arts/Tai Chi’ for years inspired me to try this medium, which I fell in love with right away. The calming effect of grinding the ink before painting, the energy that is put into throwing ink on paper is just the greatest of pleasures that only this style of art allows me to feel.”

In her paintings Darlene attempts “to show purity in painting the snow, brightness in the moon, fragrance in the flower, sounds in the waterfall and spirit in people.” Before beginning, she has a vision in mind. “The mind has the plan and the hand follows. Once started, the brush and ink require full attention. Without the mood, brush and ink do not have anything to attach to; without brush and ink, the mood cannot be expressed. These are inseparable elements.”

Her many awards include ICCPS International Exhibition in China awarded Council Special Award in 2016 & 2017. first place at the Campagna Center, Alexandria, VA, First place at Green Spring Gardens, Annandale, VA, First Place Award in the National Sumi-e of America Annual Juried Exhibition, Bethesda, MD, and Finalist at the 27th Annual Arts Competitions-Artist Magazine, Winner of Splash Competition-announced in Southwest Magazine, Professional Artist, and American Watercolor Magazine, and winner in Healing for the Arts at Manhattan International Arts, NYC.

Kaplan teaches Oriental Brush Painting classes in her studio, Alexandria, VA. She also holds an annual 6 Day Workshop. Her art may be viewed in person at Soft Brush Studio in Alexandria, VA and The Loft Gallery in Occoquan, VA. You may view her art online at www.darlenekaplan.com.

5th Place – Barbara Mierau-Klein – “Grungy Fall”

Barbara Mierau-Klein is a digital artist recognized for her multi-layered, imaginative and colorful fine art images. A native of Germany, Barbara lives in the Washington, D.C. area but often travels the world as a passionate landscape and nature photographer since her teenage years.

Barbara discovered digital art several years ago and became so fascinated that it turned into a full-time pursuit. Much of Barbara’s work is highly stylized and focuses on beautiful moments and evocative moods across a wide range of subjects. The inspiration for her images comes from many sources like books, song lyrics, movies, nature, and works of other artists, old masters as well as contemporary digital artists.

Barbara’s work has been exhibited at the Heaven Art Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona and the Orenda Gallery in Reno, Nevada. She has had seven top-ten placements in online juried art competitions at the Light Space Time Art Gallery and Fusion Art Gallery over the past year. Her work has also appeared regularly in Living the Photo Artistic Life Magazine and Fine Eye Magazine with a feature article on her work in August 2018.

With her digital art creations, Barbara seeks to impart a sense of wonder and invite the viewer to step into a different reality for a brief moment. Barbara’s Website: www.barbaramierauklein.com

6th Place – Meera Ramanathan – “Tulips”

I enjoy working with paper as my preferred medium. My works deal with subjects which are often mundane and ordinary; things that we look at every day and take for granted.

My aim is to raise these items to a higher level as I believe there is so much beauty and uniqueness in them. I think of my paper collages as an ode to the normal and typical and strive to elevate these objects by exaggerating their color and the effect of light on them.

I first sketch my subject to get a sense of the form. I like to exaggerate the color and light to create drama. I then use paper pieces of paper that I rip to create bold chunks of color.

Sewing and hand embroidery has been a huge part of my life and I look for opportunities when I can incorporate thread into my works. Meera’s Email: mramanathan@sdsu.edu

7th Place – Wendy Goodwin – “Oriental Glow”

I like to think of myself as an “image maker” when it comes to art and photography. With its creative freedom, potential for instant and direct critical evaluation, unlimited scope for artistic control, enhancement and experimentation, the digital/mixed media medium is endlessly fascinating to me and suits my style.

I grew up in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s in a semi-rural, the suburb of Adelaide, South Australia, surrounded by a large garden with the backdrop of Black Hill and the Mount Lofty Ranges (at the southern end of the ancient Flinders Ranges). Our gardens and that of my grandmother’s across the road were complex and rambling, yet also contained formal flowerbeds which attracted day trippers on the weekends!

The birds, bees, lizards, bushes, and trees endlessly fascinated me as we played imaginary games and filled our tummies with in-season fruit and vegetables from the fruit trees and vegetable patches. Nature has therefore always played a large role in my life and retains a large space in my heart. I now have a garden of my own in the Adelaide Hills and have brought my own daughters up to love and respect the flora and fauna and wildlife of the great outdoors.

I am passionate about capturing natural moments in my garden. Thus, I always have a camera, a sketchbook, or a device of some sort with me when in my garden. I feel compelled to capture the beauty that I see and preserve it to share with others. Sunlight, weather conditions, and subjects are ever-changing, and to capture beautiful and meaningful images, that tell a story, is a lifelong quest. And then, to create a truly unique and bespoke work of art is a gift and a privilege. I am endlessly inspired by the beauty and majesty of the natural world in general, and by the unique Australian landscape in particular. I have also traveled extensively in Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. I believe that art should be aesthetically pleasing and uplifting, as well as thought-provoking and evocative of mood. One hopes that one’s art is something that people would like to have in their home, as part of their world.

Although I studied Art as a subject for 11 years, at both primary and secondary schools, my formal tertiary education in Biology and Geography, and later a Master’s Degree in Special and Gifted Education, took me on a different career path. I have always been fascinated by the colors, shapes, and patterns that exist in the natural world – and these make up the foundation of my art. Light and shadow, hard angles and soft curves, manifest themselves to the eye of the artist, to then be composed into an artwork. Revealing the intricacy of nature’s design is at the heart of my mixed media art practice.

As an emerging artist, I have not been exhibited extensively, but I have had art pieces featured in a few art exhibitions across Australia – in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland in recent times – as well as internationally online. https://www.saatchiart.com/wendygoodwin

8th Place – Marti White – “Night Light”

Though born in Oklahoma and now a resident of Arizona for almost 20 years, much of Marti’s life was spent in Minnesota. Her art is informed by all of the places she has called home. Marti’s love of art making began in childhood and was honed in high school and college. After marriage and the move to Minnesota, she began to work in oils and then in watercolor. Her work reflected the landscapes and flowers of the Midwest.

When she moved to the Southwest, she began to work in mixed media. This art form seemed to fit with the climate and lifestyle of Tucson and she easily moved into nonrepresentational collage work. Marti is largely self-taught, but over the years she has studied with many well-known artists through workshops and classes. Building on what these mentors have taught her, she has developed her own personal path to creative expression.

Marti’s work is shown locally and nationally. She has had several solo shows and won many awards. Marti is active in several art groups and has served in leadership capacities in these. She also teaches collage to adults in her studio and local workshops.

Challenging myself with new approaches to collage work satisfies my need for change by trying new techniques and answering the question “what would happen if…” To me, art is an expression of the inner person which leads me to approach any work of art with an open mind and limited planning beyond the choice of medium and palette.

What is behind the surface of a work of art is something that fascinates me. Finding windows that go deeper opens the work to a variety of interpretations. If the viewer can find his or her own story when looking at the work, it has succeeded in communicating. This is what gives me the most satisfaction in the act of creating art. Marti’s Website: www.combymartiwhite.com

9th Place – Peter Alessandria – “Space Shack”

Peter was born and raised in New York City and Long Island. After attending law school, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as an entertainment attorney. Today he is an award-winning, fine art, portrait and commercial photographer based in the New York City area.

Peter spent the first part of his work life as an entertainment and intellectual property attorney in Los Angeles. Working in the film and television industries sparked his own interest in creativity and in the early 2000’s he began experimenting with digital video and became an amateur filmmaker. But it wasn’t until he picked up a still camera for the first time in 2002 that his full creative passion for image-making came into being.

Like many people, things changed dramatically for Peter in 2008. That year, as a result of the Global Financial Crisis, he lost his law practice. In the days and weeks that followed he struggled with the question of what to do with the rest of his life. It was only after much deliberation that he decided to follow his passion for photography, and in late 2009, he began pursuing photography full-time.

As a fine art photographer, Peter has created numerous collections of landscape, seascape, cityscape and still life images. His work has been featured in dozens of solo and group photography and art exhibitions. He has won sixty-one (61) awards the past few years and his photos have been published nationally and internationally, as well as being shown on television and in feature films. He has been the subject of several newspaper, radio, Internet and television interviews.

Peter finds inspiration mostly in the work of other photographers – and not necessarily the famous ones. Rather, it is his peers, many of whom he connects with on social media, that inspire Peter to go out and try new things or shoot in new locations. This connecting with others has helped fuel his creativity greatly over the last several years.

As both a photographer and filmmaker Peter’s intent is simple: create compelling images that appeal to his own sense of beauty and aesthetics. His goal is to use his art – and his life – to inspire others. He shares his photos in the hopes of touching people’s hearts and minds in positive and uplifting ways. Peter’s website: www.peteralessandriaphotography.com

10th Place – Charlotte Hastings – “Dad and His Girls”

I ‘m a semi-retired artist living in Lawrence Kansas. An artist since childhood, I have experimented with and mastered many mediums such as oils, acrylics, and sculpture. I taught classes in oils for many years. I owned and operated a cottage industry for 17 years creating a line of clay ornaments and jewelry which I sold all over the world.

About 10 years ago I discovered color pencils and have never looked back. I love the way I can capture light and shadows in the portraits I do of my family. My inspiration comes from wanting to have these treasured memories in my home; photos are great but a portrait created from snapshots of life is more special. I strive to capture details; I like high contrast. I have done animals, still life, and landscapes in color pencil but my favorite is portraits.

I do color pencil artwork on commissions while working from photographs. I’m also a licensed artist for the Kansas Jayhawks. the medium for Jayhawk work is usually acrylics. Rock Chalk Jayhawk! – Charlotte’s Website: www.incharlottesweb.com